DENVER — Javier Assad did not want to let ballpark factors affect how he approached Saturday’s start at Coors Field.
The Chicago Cubs right-hander experienced mixed results in his previous two starts there the last two years, hurt partly by walks. This time, Assad’s sinker effectively kept Rockies hitters from doing much damage. Assad induced nine ground balls, including two timely double plays, to help limit the hosts to three runs in six innings.
The first four hitters in the lineup — Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ — tallied eight of the Cubs’ nine hits and scored all their runs in a 4-3 victory. They wrap up their nine-game trip Sunday, with Matthew Boyd taking the mound in a bid for a series sweep.
“You always try to come out and execute the same plan,” Assad said through an interpreter. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity that is being presented me right now to be able to start games. So every time I go out there, just try to give it my best and to help the team in whatever capacity.”
Assad’s performance, combined with his versatility and success pitching in the rotation or multiple innings in relief during his major-league career, has him positioned to pitch meaningful innings for the Cubs down the stretch.
“We’re at the point where you’ve got to earn stuff, and you’re going to put the guys out there that are earning it,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And he’s certainly doing that.”
The four months Assad lost to an oblique injury that reoccurred during his initial rehab altered what his impact would look like this season. But since making his debut Aug. 12, Assad has been an asset for the Cubs as they have navigated pitching-depth issues, the latest featuring veteran Jameson Taillon going on the injured list.
That created another opportunity for Assad, who was again recalled from Triple A for Saturday’s start.
“The injury was a pretty significant setback for Javi this year,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I think he’s gotten better each time out and and we’ve needed it. We missed him but we got him back at a time when we had some pretty significant needs, so it’s good to have him back, and a guy that can hopefully get us deep-ish into a game.”
Assad came into Saturday’s outing following a strong performance in Anaheim, Calif., where he held the Los Angeles Angels to one run and two hits in six innings.
Busch continues to rake
Busch’s strong rookie season was merely a jumping off point for the 27-year-old first baseman.
Busch slugged his 26th home run Friday in the Cubs’ 11-7 win, and he got all of hit. The 466-foot blast was the longest by a Cub this season and just shy of his 468-foot long ball at Coors Field last September. Busch is one of five primary first basemen to record a 25-plus home run season since 2000, joining Anthony Rizzo (six times), Derek Lee (three), Fred McGriff and Carlos Peña.
Among big-league first basemen this season, Busch entered Saturday ranked third in slugging (.499) and fifth in home runs, wRC+ (134) and OPS (.839).
“The great thing about is it reinforces the step forward that Michael’s taken this year, and he’s having a really, really nice offensive season, just all-around season,” Counsell said. “I know he hasn’t started every game, but he’s another player, a lot of our position players deserve this credit, too, is he’s been available every single game.”
Offense enjoys hitter-friendly park
It won’t be clear for a few weeks whether this weekend’s three-game series at Coors Field was the hitter-friendly environment the Cubs needed to jump-start the offense.
But the early the returns are good after the Cubs recorded 10 extra-base hits Friday, their second most in a game this season. The Cubs are one of three teams to record multiple games with at least 10 extra-base hits, along with the New York Yankees (three) and Rockies (two).
“At times, it just feels like when people are on, the big hit hasn’t necessarily come or it’s gotten caught,” said shortstop Dansby Swanson, who had two home runs, a triple and six RBIs on Friday. “I even think about some of the San Fran stuff, just some of the lineouts with some people on base, some in the Toronto series as well.
“You never know what things can kind of bust the game open and what moments can, but we hope that days like (Friday) are are kind of starting that upward trajectory again as we go into September because this group has obviously proven that it’s capable of so many things, offensively and just as a unit.”
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The Cubs’ 434 extra-base hits rank second in the National League and fifth in the majors.